Vaseline Intensive Lip Care

 

Claims:

• For soft pink lips.

My views:

Love it. The claim 'soft pink lips' is actually true. Because it does reveal natural soft, pink lips. And it's not something extraordinary. Although there's no ingredients mentioned on the product but I believe it's just petroleum jelly. As I already said in my review for Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly, it exfoliates quite well. And exfoliation does not necessarily mean scrubbing or rubbing a thing with granules or beads and then washing it off. It sinks in and does the job from within. It softens up the hard skin over your lips and makes it ready to peel off. But you have to do the peeling.  (Don't expect it to do that instantly or in just one go. Keep applying it regularly and religiously after every wash. Skin will soften up within the next day.) Also, don't forget to apply it again after peeling the skin to keep lips moisturized after exfoliation.


Pros:

• Does what it claims.
• Sinks in. Doesn't leave a greasy film.
• Convenient packaging. (Squeeze tube).
• Eye candy. (Yes, it's a cute tube).
• Affordable. (Whether it's affordable depends on one's point of view, though. It's 60 pkr for this tube. (I don't know the size, or quantity. They didn't mention it.)
  But it's small. Although It lasts for a long time, but still some people would say, 75-80 for the Vaseline tub is better than 60 for this small tube. But what I think is, it's less fussy than the tub. Because I can use it anytime without worrying of contaminating the whole product by putting in dirty hands inside the tub. That doesn't mean I have dirty hands, lol. But you know what I mean.)

Cons:

• If left in warm or hot weather, it melts. You can still apply it, though. But it will feel like you're applying oil.

Price: 60 pkr. Bought it at Naheed Super Market.

Mabrook Eye Pencil

(Don't mind the bed sheet. I took all the pictures at the same time for my upcoming reviews so they don't get delayed because of my laziness, lol.)

This is going to be kind of a to-the-point review.

Claim:

• Long lasting. (Even though it says, "Long Lasting Lip Pencil" but who uses black on their lips except for goths? :/ )

My verdict:

Jumping to pros and cons.

Pros:

• Yes, it's long lasting. So, does what it claims, lol.
• I love how it's too thick, in size AND in application.
• The color pay off is so good. It's so bold and jet black. (Just how I wanted it to be.)
• Applies smoothly.
• Ideal for use on waterline. (Excellent).
• Can be used as an eyeshadow base.

Cons:

• If the weather is too hot & humid and you sweat; it can smudge.

Do I recommend it?

Oh, definitely!! Perfect for use on waterline or creating a smokey eye.


It costed around 400 Pkr when I bought it.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Click to enlarge

Contains:

Apricot (duh, lol):

• Apricots are known to contain one of the highest levels of carotenoids (think vitamin A) and super-effective antioxidants. All of this natural power might seem, well, too powerful, but they are actually quite gentle and nourishing and they help make fresher, more nourished skin beautifully possible.

Walnut Shell Powder:

• Walnut is known for its hard shell but when it’s ground; it becomes an amazingly effective, all-natural exfoliant ingredient in our scrubs. Not only are walnuts plentiful on the planet, they also help newer, healthier skin come to the surface.

Corn Kernel Meal:

• Corn Kernel Meal is actually flour ground from dried corn. It’s a soft, but gently powerful all-natural exfoliant that promotes skin cell turnover and regeneration. Cornmeal makes softer-feeling, fresher skin possible.

Claims:

Only St. Ives captures the secrets of naturally beautiful and healthy looking skin in this deep cleansing formula that gently exfoliates, removing dull skin cells to instantly reveal smooth, radiant, healthy looking skin.
Contains more than 90% naturally derived ingredients, including Swiss glacial water and Swiss botanicles.
All St. Ives formulas are dermatologist tested in Switzerland.
Promotes healthier looking, glowing skin in just 7 days.

Product is:

• Oil-free
• Non-irritating
• Dermatologist-tested
• 100% natural exfoliants
• 100% natural extracts
• Formulated without parabens and phthalates
• Made without animal ingredients
• Not tested on animals

* Avoid eye area. If product gets into eyes; rinse thoroughly. (That's because it contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is harmful to eyes. Also to the skin, read here >> But then again, we (as in everyone) have been using SLS included products since we were kids so...)

* St. Ives scrubs can also be used on the body.

My opinion:

Let's start at the beginning when I first bought it. Let me tell you this was my very first scrub. I just started using them not long ago. I researched the products and found St. Ives to be the best so I went ahead and got myself some apricot goodness for my face. When I first used it; I might have scrubbed a little too hard because the next day, I had bumps on my cheeks. I freaked out and blamed this on this scrub. I thought it was too harsh. Then I read that it could happen the first time. Because all the dirt and oil that may have been hidden deep down where the regular cleansers don't reach; might have come to the surface. Which was good cause that way, it could get out and be cleansed away. But I was still paranoid about it. So, for a long while it just laid on the shelf while I tried some other scrub I bought which was fine and I didn't have any problem with. But then again, I had started to scrub lightly after that first time (which means I was subconsciously aware that it was partly my fault, I might have scrubbed hard). The other scrub was too messy for my lazy self. So, at last, I decided to give St. Ives another try. So glad I did. Cause this time, it didn't cause any problems. In fact, gave me a super smooth and fresh look. Since then, I'm hooked.


Pros:

• Easy, convenient flip-top tube packaging.
• Budget-friendly
• Moisturizing. Makes skin soft and smooth.
• Cleanses & exfoliates well, reveals a healthier skin.
• I'd say it's almost unscented. I mean, the scent in totally unnoticeable if you don't sniff the tube or the product =D (And even if you do; you won't regret it cause it's just a hint of very light, sweet smell. Peachy.)
• I'd say does what it claims.

Cons:

• Though the granules are so tiny, beware of scrubbing too hard nonetheless.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, of course. If you want a glowing, smooth and soft skin.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish 16-Hour Foundation

Claims:

• Transfer-resistant, Anti-trace
• Lasts 16-Hour after application
• Mineral enriched formula helps energize skin.

My opinion:

I wanted to buy the 25-Hour version but they either had the 16-H one or Stay Matte. I went for the 16-H version. The color seems a bit too dark in the tube. I was afraid I had bought the wrong shade. But upon application, it turned out fine. Also, when applied; it gives kind of a white-cast first but then it blends and the white-cast goes away. It's kind of like a BB cream cause the ones I've tried; they give a white-cast and then blend into the skin and give powdery finish.
Let me start with the-

Consistency/Texture: It seems watery(not too much but much like a thin cream) when poured out but it dries super fast so if you put a dot on your finger for over 10 seconds, it's going to dry up. So you have to work fast. Just concentrate on one area at a time. Don't dot your face and wait.

Next is the-

 Smell: Well, I like it. Though, it's a typical cosmetics-y smell but it's not bad.

Now for its-

Coverage: Medium to full. Also, It works excellent as a concealer.

Performance: Good news, it doesn't break me out. And it gives a total matte, powdery finish. Perfect for me cause considering I have oily skin; my face is going to get shiny in a few minutes so the dewy effect will come naturally, lol. No need for a foundation to add the shine for me. Also, it is transfer-free but it's not water/sweat-proof. I don't know if it lasts up to 16 hours cause obviously I haven't tried it on that long. But it has a pretty decent staying power, I must say. Usually my undereye makeup disappears after like less than an hour after stepping out. But with this, it stayed put for hours.

Slightly blended.

So the pros and cons are:

Pros:

• Easy and convenient packaging. Has a nozzle-top so you control the amount you pour out. Which also gives it the hygiene factor.
• Gives medium to full coverage and acts as a concealer. Also, as an eye primer. Yes. I wore eyeshadow after applying this foundation on my lids and around the eye area and it stayed on for hours!! On MY lids, which is a big deal cause no eyeshadow tends to stick for more than an hour.
• Has a matte finish. So you don't need to set it with powder.
• Lasts for a long time. (I haven't timed it, though :/ )
• Transfer-free.
• I'm not sure about the "Mineral enriched formula helps energize skin". But it also doesn't do the opposite so it's all good.
• Budget-friendly.
• Best for oily/combination skin types.

Cons:

• Might not be suitable for dry skin types. Don't take my word for it, though. Cause I haven't tried it on someone with dry skin.
• Colors/shades are limited. And the Ivory is not the fairest of them all (pun intended). So, if you are really pale, you wouldn't find a shade to fit you.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, if you want a shine-free day. So, yes for oily/combination skin types. Not too sure about dry types.

Price is shown in the second pic. And I got it from Chase Up Store.

Pond's White Beauty Pinkish-White Glow Lightening Cream

Contains:

Lycopene:

•  A powerful natural anti-oxidant. (Antioxidants combat free radicals that can damage skin cells.)

Pro-Vitamin B3:

• To create a potent skin lightening complex.

I know the flash doesn't let your read the rest of it but I was in a hurry and didn't fix it.

Claims:

Finally, a lightening cream that goes well beyond just whitening your skin. With new Pond's White Beauty, see your skin visibly transformed to a radiant pinkish-white glow.
With Lycopene, Pro-Vitamin B3 and triple sunscreen, this moisturizing cream gently evens out skin tone as it works from within to nourish your skin, leaving it instantly brighter, softer and more radiant. And its triple sun protection keeps skin safe from damaging UV rays.Your radiant, new pinkish-white complexion is here to stay.

My Opinion:

I bought the 20g version of it just to test it out. It's a really cute tube and it's not plastic, it's kind of a rubber because it squeezes and is soft. So cute. Anyway, moving on.
The cream inside is just like its sister, Pond's Flawless White, white with a pinkish tint. And the smell, too. But the result isn't. At first when applied, it gives the same effect. Like you have a light powder on. Clean, matte and fresh look. But after a while, it oxidized on me and left kind of weird dark shadows around the bridge of my nose every time I used it. So I stopped using it. Shame cause the tube is so cute. I don't feel like wasting it even if it's only 20 g(less now). Maybe I'll use it on my neck.

I bought it for 90 or 95 Pkr. I, um, forgot >.<

Do I recommend it?

Not really. Not for regular use but if you have to run errands and need to freshen up your face in a hurry then yes. Otherwise, nope.


For the pictures above: Click to enlarge.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

Active Ingredient:

Salicylic Acid (2%):

• What it is:        Salicylic acid is an ingredient used in many over-the-counter acne medications. It is also an exfoliant agent.

• What it does:     Acne is formed when skin cells inside hair follicles shed too fast and clump together, plugging up the follicle and causing a pimple. Salicylic acid helps slow down shedding of the cells inside the follicles, preventing clogging. Salicylic acid also helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.

* Avoid using other acne medications at the same time as Salicylic acid such as Benzoyl Peroxide, etc. Or it can cause severe dryness and flakiness.

Claims:

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash gets deep into pores to treat the breakouts you have now and helps to prevent future breakouts.  This effective, yet gentle cleanser deep cleans without overdrying or irritation.  Rinses clean, leaving no pore-clogging residue.  Skin comforters soothe and condition, helping to prevent irritation.



My opinion:

I have oily skin and when I wash my face, it gets shiny after only a few minutes. When I started using this as a face wash regularly, I noticed something. My face felt really tight and it was really dry around my mouth. I had to use heaps of moisturizer every time I washed my face and I'm too lazy to do that. I was confused because it was summer and my face didn't even get that dry in winter. Then I caught the culprit. It was this face wash of course. I should've known but I was new to the anti-acne, medicated washes at that time. It has 2% Salicylic Acid which is why it's super drying. (Usually medicated moisturizers or toners have 0.2% to 0.5% SA.)
I stopped using it like a face wash immediately. Then I got an idea:
I used it like you would use an ointment. Oh no, I didn't spread the gel on my face and leave it on. Nope. Every time I got a pimple, I squirted out a tiny amount of this gel, moistened and made it into a lather and only applied the foam on the pimple area and then washed it off. Voila! No extra, unnecessary dryness. This way, you treat only what needs to be treated. It really works. It's awesome like that. It instantly(I mean, within the day) reduces the size of the pimple, dries it out and the next day, it's gone. Good, eh?

Do I recommed it?

Not as a regular face wash but if you use it my way, as a medication then definitely. ^_^

Pakistani Beauty Blog – Weekly Roundup [Vol 2]

 
 

• Watching people getting NAKED wasn’t easy. Every post that featured this palette ignited her desire to get it. Sara Hasan celebrated her eid day with Urban decay naked palette   
• Visit through the streets of Karachi as Rida Rohail guides you through a tour of Port Grand this Eid!
• Feeling a little British today? Try out Maheen's England Flag look. 
• Sana & Aroosa shares their collective haul which includes Sephora , Bourjois and more  
• Young Foreverism shows of her eid day Mehndi 
•  "Eid was this time very royal for Anum, and would have been incomplete without the royal on her eyes  
• Silver Smokey look  for a smokin' hot Eid by Ruqaiya Khan 
• Sahrish Adeel shares her inexpensive buys for this Eid - Check our her Bling Bling-Jewelry Haul!
• Neelum needed a new holy grail lip balm, and it looks like she found it. It is now known as The best lip balm i have ever used  
• Eid filled with SLEEK Goodies - Rabeeyah created her Eid Day Grey Smokey look using one of her Sleek palette"  
• Is the Summer too hot for you? Want to wear those perfect icy shades on your eyes? Check out The Feminine Crusade's 'Tatters of Frost' on Eid.  
• Like Mineral Makeup? Fragancia shares her views on Nude By Nature Mineral cosmetics"  
• With all the glitz n' glam this eid, Sidrah from Beauteous Blog shares her Jewelry picks  from earrings to bracelets.  
• This Eid Saleha from Makeupmydrug went for taupe-y blue eyes.  
• Is 'Flawless Complexion' just a gimmick or really possible under budget? Find out with PiNkIsH as she reviews Pond's Flawless White Visible Lightening Day Cream 
• Everybody Loves to shop especially around EID! So Areej went shopping on Chand Raat & got these for herself 
• Cheeky Chic From we make up shares her love for a CORAL lipshade that works wonders: FIREFLY by NYC Ultra moist Lipwear 
• Shycheeks reviews a quite hyped product  
• Transition your makeup into Autumn/Winter 2011 Sarah Ali @ Glossicious reviews Sleek MakeUP’s NUDE COLLECTION.

Rimmel London Mono Eyeshadow

I wanted to buy either a shade of pink or some other vibrant one but they had only 3 colors available and this purple was the only good one I could have.
It has a very smooth, velvety texture. And it doesn't fall out like crazy like some other powder eyeshadows.

And before I jump to the pros and cons, let me tell you that I've worn this without primer and its staying power is absolute love. Also, I wore this with Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation (review coming up later) and it didn't budge or smudge at all.

Here's a closer look:

Also, it might look like it's too shimmery but it's not. When applied, it looks matte and the little bit shimmer only shows up in flash photos.


Pros:

• Smooth
• No fall-outs when applying
• Long-lasting
• Nicely Pigmented
• Good color pay-off
• Affordable
• Good amount of product. It's small but you don't need much for one application. It can go on and on.
• Travel-friendly packaging.
• Tightly locking lid/cap so no worry of it accidentally opening up and touch dirty surfaces..

Cons:

• Not-so-cute packaging. (But that's okay. You get a really good product inside).

Do I recommend it?

I really love this and with the price tag it comes with, it's a steal! So yes, definitely recommended.

Pond's Flawless White Visible Lightening Day Cream

Look at the jar! Just look at it!! It's sooo adorable!! Ahem...moving on... >.>

Contains:

• Multiple UV protection
• VAO-B3 - is the Pond's Institute's new Vitamin E, Allantoin and Optics powered Niacinamide (B3) complex, especially created to deliver flawlessly radiant skin.
  
  

Claims:

Visibly lightens skin and reduces dark spots in just seven days. VAO-B3 works on dark spots, reducing discoloration and perfecting skin tone.
Enriched with new VAO-B3 complex* and multiple UV sunscreens, this moisturizing day cream knows where your skin needs extra help. The result? Luminous and flawlessly radiant look that's also protected from the sun's UVA/UVB rays!

My experience with it:

I love it!! I was actually on the fence about buying it because usually these 'fairness' and 'glow' creams don't work and turn out to be awful products. But I gave into the ads and it's packaging and just bought it. I'm so glad I did. (By the way,  this one's from 'Philippines')
At first when you apply it, it gives you a white but matte & clean look. Like you would with other cosmetic creams (e.g. Fair & Lovely.)  But don't worry if you don't like the fake-whitening effect cause it goes away after a little while. It seems kind of heavy when you take it out but it's not. It doesn't feel heavy on my face even though I have oily skin. After using it for over a week, I noticed a difference. First of all, the oil control was awesome!! Not only when I have it on but even when I don't. Also, its claim to reduce dark spots and perfecting skin tone, I would say, is spot on. Yes, I noticed the difference.

Pros:

1. The packaging!!!! (No, I'm not shallow. I don't only buy the products because of their packaging. I actually researched about this product before I bought but you've gotta admit the packaging alone should be enough to convince you ;) lol )
2. Awesome oil-control and matte look.
3. Effectiveness. Actually does what it claims to a large extent.
4. The smell. That rosy kind of creamy smell. (This one depends on person to person, though)
5. The texture. I mean, it's PINK!! Lol.
6. Doesn't break you out. Score!!

Cons:

1. I don't believe there are any cons. But just for the sake of it, I guess the price. But you know, it wouldn't be fair to a product this good to be cheaper than this!

(And yes, I don't count the 'jar' packaging a con, some people would. But I always use a clean Cotton-bud to take it out.)

So I would definitely recommend it!!


 Recommended.
 

It's available at Naheed Super Market for 875 Pkr (50 g) [Almost double than its actual price listed below].
It costs 249 PHP in Philippines.
I don't think it's available in the US but if it is; it's really hard to find.